Spline Roadbed 1: Oakridge to Helix Spline Construction

The final section of subroadbed to be installed on the lower level stretches from the south end of Oakridge to the entrance to the helix. The trackage is primarily on a sweeping curve and will feature transitional scenery from the flatter valley hills modeled in Oakridge to the steeper mountain terrain that will be predominant on the mid and upper levels. For this reason, spline roadbed is the perfect choice.

I have used spline roadbed in the past on the mid and upper levels of the railroad. For me, it is ideal for mountain railroading as it creates beautifully flowing curves, natural easements, and is narrow for steep scenery. As always, I start with reference to the track plan to lay out the curve, however, I am not married to it and often will use the spline itself to find the best fitting curve for the railroad in space. In this instance, the path suggested for the turnaround curve was rather awkward and tight so I elected to broaden it slightly.

Initial curve laid out with two masonite splines. Oakridge is out of the picture to the bottom right and the helix is in the bottom left. Also in this scene will be Salmon Creek and Pope and Talbot Lumber, which will fit against the backdrop. The view from a ladder is best to see the entirety of the curve at one time and make sure there are no awkward kinks or bends. 

After I have decided on the proper arrangement, I glue 2 or 3 splines together with wood glue. I have used 1/4" masonite ripped into 1" strips throughout the project. In this case I glued 3 layers together as the curve was manageable and easily accessible. 

Three layers of spline laminated together and drying with clamps. A good supply of spring clamps is necessary. 

When using two different types of subroadbed transitions are are necessity. For spline to plywood, it is best to cut a small key-slot for one of the layers to fit into. This ensures proper alignment and flow. Once all seven layers of spline are laminated, I will take more care into creating a smooth transition. 

Key slot cut and spline fit for transition between two subroadbed types.

Clamps holding together the final layers for the Oakridge to helix curve.

Completed spline roadbed with 7 layers of 1/4" masonite.

In the next installment I will discuss how I install the risers and fasten the spline to the benchwork. This area presents unique challenges given the height of the benchwork and future location of Salmon Creek.

Fascia-1: Westfir to Oakridge

The Winter 2018-2019 construction phase commenced earlier this week with fascia work in Westfir. After some time away from working on the railroad, Westfir, the very first scene on the railroad will be a major focus over the next few weeks and will feature in a variety of posts on various projects including fascia work, track painting and detailing, backdrop painting, and terrain. 

Given the narrow spacing between decks, I decided on a 7 inch standard depth for fascia on the first level. The goal of the fascia is to cleanly define the scenes, but not overpower them. I plan to have minimal distractions on the fascia save for location names and mileposts.

I started by fitting an 8 ft.  piece of masonite I had ripped to width with my table saw. At the south end of Westfir, Tunnel 22 interrupts the scene and serves as a scenic divider between Westfir and Oakridge. To accommodate the change in terrain for the tunnel, I fitted and spliced in a taller piece of masonite that was shaped to match the profile of the future terrain. 

Fitting the larger terrain profile for Tunnel 22 between Westfir (right) and Oakridge (left).

The standard sized fascia piece for Westfir tacked in place with temporary wood screws.

Profile for Tunnel 22 cut and clamped in place for fitting. 

To secure the fascia to the benchwork I have opted to use #8 wood screws with finishing washers. This is a method that has been done and documented previously and I liked the look of screws on the fascia. Returning readers will remember I countersunk and spackled over the screws on the fascia for my staging yard, but I wasn't pleased with the results and the amount of work the achieve a decent result. 

With the finishing washers, the fascia, despite the presence of the wood screws, maintains a clean and professional look. 

To connect pieces of masonite seamlessly I originally planned on using scrap plywood, wood glue, and a few screws to hold everything in place and in alignment. I found, however, that with careful sanding and fitting, a scrap of masonite glued over the join on the backside of the fascia with wood glue provided quite a clean and strong joint.

Clamps hold everything in place as the glue holding the joints together dries. 

To finish initial construction of the Westfir fascia I cut a simple terrain profile with my jigsaw. I was careful not to just cut a wave pattern, but to account for natural variation in terrain and also engineered drainage features, namely a culvert. Additionally, I lightly spackled the joint between the two masonite pieces as well as a small hole in the Tunnel 22 profile piece. 

Westfir fascia initial construction complete with spackling and profiles cut. 

In future posts regarding fascia work on the railroad I will discuss my techniques for painting as well as detail continued construction through Oakridge.

Final Note: I am changing the way I post updates to allow for more continuous content throughout the year. Moving forward I will post weekly updates (Fridays) documenting 1 or 2 of the projects I am working on. In this way I can write more about each aspect of the railroad, as well as give each project its own post to make information better accessible for each topic.